Abstract

This research review article made an attempt to review such issues pertaining to handicraft sector. It highlight/covers following aspects in detail: ergonomics interventions in handicraft industries, occupational risk factor, and musculoskeletal disorders. The literatures over a decade reported that ergonomics concepts are more applied in large-scale industries like steel plant, power plant, manufacturing plants, automotive sectors etc. rather than small-scale industries like handicraft. However, applying ergonomics concepts/principles in such industries would definitely lead to increase in the work-system-worker productivity by improvement in tools, methods, work-environment, minimizing injuries and disorders. Based on literature studies recommendations are made that significant lead to improvement in productivity of such industries.

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1. Introduction

Ergonomics is a science (physical-mental-mechanical) that deals with work-system design so that concern workers works efficiently and effectively with least fatigue/problems. The research world-wide generates pool of knowledge concerning design of work-stations/tools/equipments; work-environment that lead to enhancement in quality-life/productivity of workers; reduces discomfort/illness/absenteeism at work; restructuring organizational design and framing policies that ultimately lead to achievement of strategic goals. Thus, applied ergonomics concepts/principles to industries in particular observed to enhance performance of that particular industry/sector (Hagg, 2003). However, literatures reported various musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that have an effect on complete body cells/tissues including nerves and tendon sheaths, in work-system design not considering ergonomics principles (Jaffar et al., 2011). These studies (Choobineh et al., 2007a; Hallbeck, 2010; Nazari et al., 2012; Mahmoudi and Bazrafshan, 2013; Meena et al., 2013; Metgud et al., 2008; Motamedzade et al., 2007; Motamedzade and Afshari, 2014) shows vital role played by ergonomics science while designing work-place across industries. To describe the concept of ergonomics, numerous researchers have given a variety of definitions which are given in Table 1.

Table 1.

Various connotations of ergonomics reported in the literature

Year

Researchers

Definition

1993

Sanders and McCormick

The discovers and applies information about human behavior, abilities, limitations, and other characteristics to the design of tools, machines, tasks, jobs, and environments for productive, safe, comfortable, and effective human use.

1995

Moray

Ergonomics is concerned with the design of behavior.

1995

Wilson and Corlett

The practice of learning about human characteristics and then using that understanding to improve people’s interactions with the things they use and in the environments in which they do so.

1997

Tayyari and Smith

A branch of science that is concerned with the achievement of optimal relationships between workers and their work environment.

2000

Dempsey et al.

Ergonomics is the design and engineering of human-machine systems for the purpose of enhancing human performance.

2000

IEA

The scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.

2000

Wilson

Ergonomics is the theoretical and fundamental understanding of human behavior and performance in purposeful interacting socio-technical systems, and the application of that understanding to design of interactions in the context of real systems.

2005

Lee

Ergonomics is concerned with promoting compatibility between humans and systems.